Patentable/Patents/US-11936828
US-11936828

Application distribution device distributes a program for installing an application in an image forming apparatus and non-transitory recording medium

PublishedMarch 19, 2024
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

An application distribution device includes one or more processors and one or more memory devices storing instructions. The instructions cause the processors to obtain a virtual image forming apparatus that emulates a physical image forming apparatus; determine whether an application launched in the virtual image forming apparatus corresponds to an application installed in the physical image forming apparatus; based on the determination, acquire setting information of the application launched in the virtual image forming apparatus, the setting information comprising a setting made for the application launched in the virtual image forming apparatus; obtain an updated application by updating the application based on the acquired setting information; and distribute a program to the physical image forming apparatus, the program comprising instructions executable by the physical image forming apparatus and configured to implement the updated application in the physical image forming apparatus, the updated application based on the acquired setting information.

Patent Claims
9 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The application distribution device of claim 1, wherein the setting information is stored in a database and associated with identification information for identifying the physical image forming apparatus.

Plain English Translation

An application distribution device includes processors and memory. It obtains a virtual image forming apparatus (V-IFA) emulating a physical image forming apparatus (P-IFA). The device determines if an application running in the V-IFA matches one installed in the P-IFA. If so, it acquires setting information (user-made configurations) from the V-IFA's application. It then uses this setting information to create an updated application. Finally, it distributes a program to the P-IFA, instructing it to implement this updated application with its derived settings. This acquired setting information is specifically stored in a database and associated with unique identification information that identifies the particular P-IFA.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The application distribution device of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the setting information is correlated with a plurality of the identification information.

Plain English Translation

An application distribution device includes processors and memory. It obtains a virtual image forming apparatus (V-IFA) emulating a physical image forming apparatus (P-IFA). The device determines if an application running in the V-IFA matches one installed in the P-IFA. If so, it acquires setting information (user-made configurations) from the V-IFA's application. It then uses this setting information to create an updated application. Finally, it distributes a program to the P-IFA, instructing it to implement this updated application with its derived settings. This acquired setting information is stored in a database and associated with unique identification information that identifies the particular P-IFA. Additionally, at least a portion of this setting information can be correlated with identification information for multiple P-IFAs, allowing shared settings across devices.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The application distribution device of claim 4, wherein the display is a display of a host device.

Plain English Translation

An application distribution device includes processors and memory. It obtains a virtual image forming apparatus (V-IFA) emulating a physical image forming apparatus (P-IFA). The device determines if an application running in the V-IFA matches one installed in the P-IFA. If so, it acquires setting information (user-made configurations) from the V-IFA's application. It then uses this setting information to create an updated application. Finally, it distributes a program to the P-IFA, instructing it to implement this updated application with its derived settings. This device is also configured to provide a user interface on a display. Specifically, this display is part of a separate host device, not necessarily integrated with the application distribution device itself.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The application distribution device of claim 1, wherein the physical image forming apparatus comprises a printer, a scanner, and a control panel.

Plain English Translation

An application distribution device includes processors and memory. It obtains a virtual image forming apparatus (V-IFA) emulating a physical image forming apparatus (P-IFA). The device determines if an application running in the V-IFA matches one installed in the P-IFA. If so, it acquires setting information (user-made configurations) from the V-IFA's application. It then uses this setting information to create an updated application. Finally, it distributes a program to the P-IFA, instructing it to implement this updated application with its derived settings. The P-IFA being emulated by the V-IFA comprises core components such as a printer, a scanner, and a control panel for user interaction.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The application distribution device of claim 1, wherein the physical image forming apparatus is configured to communicably connect with the display, and the user interface, via a network.

Plain English Translation

An application distribution device includes processors and memory. It obtains a virtual image forming apparatus (V-IFA) emulating a physical image forming apparatus (P-IFA). The device determines if an application running in the V-IFA matches one installed in the P-IFA. If so, it acquires setting information (user-made configurations) from the V-IFA's application. It then uses this setting information to create an updated application. Finally, it distributes a program to the P-IFA, instructing it to implement this updated application with its derived settings. Furthermore, the P-IFA is configured to communicably connect with a display and a user interface (e.g., for system control or application interaction) via a network.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The application distribution system of claim 14, wherein the setting information is stored in a database and associated with identification information for identifying the physical image forming apparatus.

Plain English Translation

An application distribution system functions by obtaining a virtual image forming apparatus (V-IFA) emulating a physical image forming apparatus (P-IFA). The system determines if an application launched in the V-IFA corresponds to an application installed in the P-IFA. If a match is found, it acquires the setting information (including user-made configurations) from the V-IFA's application. This setting information is then used to create an updated application. The system then distributes a program to the P-IFA, enabling it to implement this updated application with the acquired settings. Specifically, the acquired application setting information is stored in a database and linked to unique identification information that identifies the specific P-IFA.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The application distribution system of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the setting information is correlated with a plurality of the identification information.

Plain English Translation

An application distribution system functions by obtaining a virtual image forming apparatus (V-IFA) emulating a physical image forming apparatus (P-IFA). The system determines if an application launched in the V-IFA corresponds to an application installed in the P-IFA. If a match is found, it acquires the setting information (including user-made configurations) from the V-IFA's application. This setting information is then used to create an updated application. The system then distributes a program to the P-IFA, enabling it to implement this updated application with the acquired settings. The acquired application setting information is stored in a database and linked to unique identification information for the P-IFA. Additionally, at least some of this setting information can be associated with multiple P-IFAs, by being correlated with several identification information records.

Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. The application distribution device of claim 14, wherein the physical image forming apparatus comprises a printer, a scanner, and a control panel.

Plain English Translation

An application distribution system functions by obtaining a virtual image forming apparatus (V-IFA) emulating a physical image forming apparatus (P-IFA). The system determines if an application launched in the V-IFA corresponds to an application installed in the P-IFA. If a match is found, it acquires the setting information (including user-made configurations) from the V-IFA's application. This setting information is then used to create an updated application. The system then distributes a program to the P-IFA, enabling it to implement this updated application with the acquired settings. Within this system, the P-IFA comprises components such as a printer for printing, a scanner for digitizing, and a control panel for user interaction and operational management.

Claim 20

Original Legal Text

20. The application distribution device of claim 14, wherein the physical image forming apparatus is configured to communicably connect with the display, the user interface, and the distribution device, via a network.

Plain English Translation

An application distribution system functions by obtaining a virtual image forming apparatus (V-IFA) emulating a physical image forming apparatus (P-IFA). The system determines if an application launched in the V-IFA corresponds to an application installed in the P-IFA. If a match is found, it acquires the setting information (including user-made configurations) from the V-IFA's application. This setting information is then used to create an updated application. The system then distributes a program to the P-IFA, enabling it to implement this updated application with the acquired settings. Within this system, the P-IFA is configured to communicably connect with a display, a user interface (which may be part of a host device), and the application distribution device itself, all via a network.

Classification Codes (CPC)

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

March 3, 2023

Publication Date

March 19, 2024

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Cite as: Patentable. “Application distribution device distributes a program for installing an application in an image forming apparatus and non-transitory recording medium” (US-11936828). https://patentable.app/patents/US-11936828

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